Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for furuncles, migraines, right ankle strain, and right knee strain with shin splints are remanded due to the failure of the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) to fully assist the Veteran in obtaining evidence related to his 2014 claim.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted, while the claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines was denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's ocular migraine disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches, finding that they are related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, tinnitus, a lower back disability, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a migraine headache disability and bilateral hearing loss to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically related to obtaining VA treatment records from May 2010 onwards.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, as the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for headaches due to error refraction prior to March 22, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches as there is no evidence that his condition resulted from active military, naval, air, or space service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions as a matter of law due to claims processing errors preventing concurrent review.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted a 50 percent rating, and an effective date of February 15, 2021, for TDIU is also granted.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 11, 2019, for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected tension and migraine headaches but dismissed the motion to revise or reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a past rating decision.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, dismissing all claims.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for a headache disability due to incomplete VA examination reports and the need for additional evidence.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected headache disability, effective April 1, 2013.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for tension headaches to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including an inadequate VA examination and nexus opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus and migraines due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, and an earlier effective date and a higher initial evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed. The claims for dry cough, migraines, rhinitis, and chronic lumbosacral strain (claimed as back pains) were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for emphysema, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a compensable rating for migraine headaches, and higher ratings for TBI, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.